//------------------------------// // Special: Are You Afraid of the Dark? // Story: The Overworked Alicorn // by BreakDown //------------------------------// Halloween Special Are You Afraid of the Dark? Princess Twilight 'Nocturne' Sparkle slowly trotted through the Everfree Forest. She carried with her only her saddlebags into the forest. She came only at the behest of one of her friends, but was beginning to wish she hadn't. 'Why did I let her talk me into this?' she inwardly questioned. She of course cared greatly for each of her friends, but she wondered why she had been asked to come out tonight of all nights. 'It couldn't be any night other than Nightmare Night,' she thought with a shiver. In her own opinion, Nightmare Night was the worst possible time to go out into the Everfree. Not to say that she could think of a particularly good night to wander into the forest. But she honestly believed that this was the absolute worst night to do so. The sudden hooting of an owl broke the mare from her train of thought. She glanced all around and saw a snowy white owl in the branches of a nearby tree. 'Kind of reminds me of Harry's owl,' she noted inwardly, meaning her old classmate 'Harry Trotter' from back in Canterlot. The owl then fluttered its wings and shot off into the air, flying over head and disappearing into the night. With the owl gone, the little lavender alicorn continued on her way through the forest. She soon turned off of the beaten path and traveled through the darkness. A shudder crawled down the length of her spine as an eerie sound echoed all around her. It was slow and steady like the beating of a heart. It seemed to echo out all around her, never stopping for even a moment. 'Where is that coming from?' she wondered nervously. Her hooves rustled and crunched the leaves beneath her as she continued her trek through the forest. The sounds of rushing water sounded from nearby. Twilight had to remind herself of the small stream in the forest lest she think it something else. The wind blew through the trees and their branches, causing them to creak and groan. The little lavender pony nearly leaped as she heard a few of the branches knock against each other. The little mare came to a sudden halt to take a calming breath. She brought a hoof to her chest and noticed her heart was racing. 'Get a grip Twilight, it's just the wind,' she told herself sternly. Then her eyes dilated as the eerie sound of children laughing echoed on the wind. She slowly turned too and fro, searching for the ponies. "H-Hello, is a-any pony th-there?" she questioned timidly. Her question remained unanswered, however she suddenly heard the sound of heavy hoof steps. The slow steady beat also seemed to grow louder, more eerie and the wind began to calm. Yet this calm wind only enhanced the eerie footsteps and heartbeat. Now sufficiently unnerved the little lavender pony yelped as a shadow overtook her. She turned and dashed in the opposite direction of the shadowed figure. Her hooves carried her deep into the forest, her breath came in labored pants. Soon the little lavender mare slowed in a clearing as a fire roared to life seemingly out of nowhere. All at once, the moon came out from behind the clouds and the eerie sounds ceased. Twilight blinked and noticed her friends were around the fire. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were snickering to themselves. AJ had an amused smirk playing across her muzzle. Rarity just shook her head and sighed. And finally, Fluttershy had seemingly attached herself to Faust's side and hid beneath one of her wings. Also present were Celestia and Luna, sans regalia and both in their 'weakened' forms. Celestia was, as such, no bigger than Cadence and with a pale pink coat and long straight standard pink mane. Luna was smaller still with a dusky blue coat and short powder blue mane. Spike sat beside of Celestia, holding a stick with some marshmallows roasting over the fire. Finally, directly across from her was a smirking Faust. The ivory mare had a brow raised as she took in Twilight's disheveled and fearful state. "What's the matter Twilight, Are You Afraid of the Dark?" the ivory alicorn questioned with a barely suppressed grin. "Mother, thou should not poke fun at our friend," Luna stated with a slight smile. The ancient alicorn in question merely giggled and smiled brightly. Twilight however huffed and sat down in the only open space around the fire. She cast an annoyed glare Faust's way and the mare raised her hooves. "I'm sorry Twilight, I had no idea you'd react so badly to my illusions," the ivory mare admitted. Twilight narrowed her eyes and turned away from the ancient alicorn to her friend. Most of them were dressed in costumes for Nightmare Night. Pinkie was dressed as an owl for some reason. Rarity had donned to dress in a black pre-classical era dress with a pair of false fangs. 'A vampony, simple but with an elegant twist,' the little lavender pony mused to herself. Rainbow dash was, once again, dressed as a Shadow-Bolt. Fluttershy wasn't dressed up at all, instead shivering beneath Faust's wing. She turned to see Applejack was wearing a wolf costume and sipping some apple cider. Celestia had chosen to use magic in order to appear as Queen Majesty in her youth, Faust's old teacher. Luna had not donned a costume, instead going without like she and Faust had chosen. "So, what's this all about?" Twilight questioned with a raised brow. Faust smiled and looked to Pinkie. "You bring what I asked for?" the ancient alicorn questioned. The pink party pony snorted and then nodded her head with a wide grin across her face. "Totally! It's not like it was all that hard either," the pink party pony replied and pulled a burlap bag from... somewhere. Faust merely grasped the bag in her magic and pulled it over to herself. Opening the bag for a moment, the mare then hummed and took a taste of its contents. The mare then nodded her head and placed it at her side. "Now then, when I was a filly my friends and I had a tradition, once a week we'd tell each other scary stories," the ancient alicorn began, "we called it our 'Midnight Society' as we would stay up telling tales to one another until midnight came. Obviously as we got older the tradition was passed on to the fillies and colts that came after us, but the tradition was then lost due to Discord," the mare noted with a frown. "You know I've said I was sorry about that already," Discord himself grumbled from a tree. He was also without a costume, though considering how strange he looked that wasn't a surprise. "Yeah and I'm going to continue to berate you for it Discord," the mare replied with a frown. The draconeequs muttered under his breath grumpily. With a roll of her eyes Faust turned away from the miss matched mad pony and back to the ponies around the fire. The mare cleared her throat for a moment and then took a breath. "In any case, tonight I wanted to celebrate the old tradition with my new friends," the mare began with a smile. She then sat back with a smirk. "So I declare this meeting of the midnight society, open," the ancient alicorn stated with a nod. "Alright so what now?" Rainbow questioned. "Well darling, considering its stories round a campfire we should probably pick out stories," Rarity offered. Faust instead shook her head. "Nope, too many stories in one night would make this boring. Instead we take turns, once a week two ponies tell their tales they have found or come up with. Since I am reviving this and since Pinkie brought what I needed, we will be the ponies telling the stories tonight," Faust explained. The other ponies didn't seem too thrilled by that, however Faust then smiled and cleared her throat. "Have any of you ever wondered where Jack-O-Lanturns came from?" the mare questioned. Several of the ponies exchanged glances before nodding their heads. "Well then, this is the story I intend to tell, It is a tale as old as can be, about a pony who managed to trick Discord," the mare began while raising the burlap sack. Discord grimaced and Celestia smirked at that tidbit of information. "Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, this is..." the mare began then threw some dust from the back into the fire. The ponies nearly leaped back as the flames rose up and turned bright blue. An eerie smoke wafting up into the air as Faust cast her magic... The Tale of Stingy Jack... Once upon a time, a very long time ago. There lived a miserable, old drunk of a stallion who liked to play cruel pranks on any pony and every pony. He lived for years until one night he met with Discord himself in an old tavern bar. The spirit of chaos had heard tales of Jack and his pranks. The lord of chaos wanted to prove himself against the old prankster so challenged him. Jack agreed, but asked Discord to buy him one last drink. Seeing nothing wrong with this, Discord turned himself into a coin to pay for the drink. However the crafty stallion quickly grabbed him up and placed him into his saddle bags. Stingy Jack was old crafty, greedy, and cruel and so had had his bags lined with iron to protect his coins. Discord struggled and fought for his freedom, however the iron held him at bay and kept him from changing back to normal. Eventually Discord pleaded with Jack to set him free, the conniving old stallion agreed but only if Discord would extend his life by ten years. Being as old as he was, Jack had known he would not live for long, and so decided to gain some more time to live. Discord reluctantly agreed to Jack's terms, and so was set free. Thus with a snap of Discord's claws Jack was allowed to live for ten more years. For ten years, Jack continued to be a cruel and miserly old stallion. The only indulgence he had was his drink. Yet after ten years of his antics, Discord finally returned. Feeling as if he could beat Jack this time the spirit of chaos challenged him once more. Jack agreed and thinking quickly he said, "Okay, but before we begin, will you get me an apple from that tree?" Feeling he had nothing to lose Discord quickly jumped into the tree to retrieve the apple. However, Jack had been prepared for the Draconeequs to return. This time he tossed an iron net over the tree and yanked Discord down. Discord struggled and fought against his bonds but they held firm. Jack laughed cruelly and made his approach. This time the nasty old stallion wanted for The Grim Galloper to be unable to take him when he finally died. Reluctant as he was before, Discord agreed to old Jack's terms. Thus with a snap of his claws Discord granted Jack's desire. For many more years, Jack continued to be a cruel and nasty stallion to all who he knew. Not even his family could stand to be around him. Finally, on his death bed he was left all alone. And when he passed, Jack realized the truth of what happened. For there stood Discord, mad grin and all. He laughed and he jeered, mocking Jack for his desires. He told him that The Grim Galloper only took ponies to their final rest, and that by staying him, Jack would be forced to roam the nether plains forever more. "B-But where will I go?" Jack questioned. Discord sneered and snorted angrily at the stallion. "Back to where you came," the missmatched mad pony growled. But the way back to the world was windy and dark. Jack pleaded with Discord for at least a way to light his way. The mad draconeequs hummed and laid in midair for a moment. He then smirked and snapped his claw. A tiny miniscule ember appeared in the air. Jack asked what he was to do with the ember. Discord merely shrugged and told him it was up to him from there. With one final laugh Discord vanished and left Jack to his fate. The greedy and cruel stallion looked around for a way to save the ember. Then reached into his bag and pulled free a turnip. One of Jack's favorites which he carried with him whenever he could steal one. He hollowed the turnip and quickly placed the tiny flickering ember within it for safe keeping. From that day forward, Stingy Jack wandered and roamed the world without a resting place. Doomed to forever wander with only a turnip turned lantern to light his way. And thus he came to be called, Jack of the Lantern... or... "Jack O'lantern!" Pinkie crowed cheerfully. Faust giggled and nodded her head. Celestia raised a brow and sent an appraising look Discord's way. "That was actually quite cunning Discord, using Jack's greed against him," the solar alicorn noted. The mad draconeequs merely smirked and flexed his claw. "Please, I did a lot of great work in that age," the mismatched mad pony replied with a wave of his claw. Rainbow rolled her eyes but did admit that the story was pretty good. Not exactly 'scary' but it was in the spirit of Nightmare Night. "An' here I though ol' Filthy was a bit miserly, that Jack feller make's him an' his daughter seem right neighborly," Applejack noted with a shake of her head. Fluttershy idly nodded her head in agreement with the orange apple mare. While she tried not to judge, 'Stingy Jack' certainly sounded like a rather mean pony. "Well at least that explains why we have Jack-O'Lanterns, though when did it go from turnips to pumpkins?" Twilight asked curiously and Faust smirked. "Pumpkins were easier to carve and put candles in," she stated with a chuckle. Twilight groaned and brought a hoof to her face. She agreed that it was easier and could fit a larger candle than a turnip. But what happened to tradition! "Oooh ooh! It's my turn now!" Pinkie declared while bouncing on her hooves. Faust rolled her eyes but nodded her head all the same. "Would you do the bag part for me Faustie?" the pink party pony questioned hopefully. The ancient alicorn nodded her head. Pinkie as such cleared her throat and let out a breath. "Most ponies have heard of my uncle Mort by now and my grandpa Binkie, but don't know the story of my uncle Rhubarb 'Rudy' Pie," the pink party pony began. "Submitted for the approval of the midnight society, I present to you," Pinkie began and Faust tossed the contents of the bag onto the flames once more. Their was another sudden rise of blue flames and billowing of smoke as the story truly began... The Tale of Godfather Mort... Once upon a time, though not so long ago. There was a pure white stallion named Binkman Daniel Pie, or simply 'Binky' to his friend. This strange stallion bore an odd cutie-mark, shaped like a scythe behind a skull, his talent was a mystery to most. But in his long life, Binky had found a good mare whom he settled down with. Together they had a great many years until finally they had a foal together. The foal was weak but alive and Binky feared for him. Thus the white stallion set out on a lonely old road in order to find some pony to watch out for his son. On the path he came upon a glowing mare. She turned out to be the sun princess, Celestia herself. "Sir Binkman," said the solar alicorn, "If you would have me I shall watch over your son," she offered. However Binky shook his head. "You look out for too many already, and besides that, only the rich prosper under rule," and with that he trotted away. For he did not truly understand how it was that Celestia had always ruled. Attempting to bring balance to the land. As he continued on the path he soon came across Nightmare Moon, her voice came down from the heavens to speak with the stallion. "If thou seek one to watch over thy son, then look no farther, good sir. Allow me to and I shall grant him riches and all the joy he would desire under my eternal night," the mare in the moon offered. However again Binky shook his head and trotted on. "No, for you look out for and think only for yourself and deceive too many this way," the stallion explained and went out on his way once more. Thus Binky continued on the road until he approached a pale ghastly figure. Cloaked in black and a scythe like horn the form of Death itself approached. "Take me as the childs godfather," Mort the grim galloper stated. Binky and Mort had met before, worked before, but he was not convinced. "Why should I accept you?" he questioned. "Through me, all are equal," the pale pony replied honestly. Binky nodded his head and smiled. "Yes, you are the right one, I should know well old friend," the pale stallion replied. Mort gave a bow to his old friend and then stood strong and tall. "I will aid the boy in his life, for he who has me as a friend cannot fail," Mort intoned Binky nodded his head and returned to his home, confident his son would be well. Binky lived with his life and his son for a great many years, he had many more children but none quite like his first. When Rhubarb or 'Rudy' finally came of age Mort appeared before him. He led the stallion out into the woods and taught him of medicine and cures. "So you see Rudy, this is my gift to you, I shall make you a great healer," Mort explained then pointed to a special herb. "For you see, whenever you are called to a sick ponies bed and I stand at their head, then give them this herb and they shall live," the pale pony began then warned. "However, if I stand at a sick ponies feet, then they are mine and nothing in the world can save them. But beware of using this herb against my will, or something very bad will happen to you." Rudy nodded and felt that he understood. It was not long before he went out into the world and came to be known far and wide for his great skill as a healer. Perhaps the most famous of all physicians in all of equestria. Ponies spoke of his power to know almost instantly if some pony would live or die. Ponies from far and wide came to Rudy seeking his aide and so he soon became very wealthy as well. However one day a lord grew ill and so Rudy was called to heal him. However as he approached he saw Mort at the sick ponies feet. He knew that no normal herb could cure him. However promise of great wealth or fame blinded the foolish stallion. "If I could only deceive death for once," Rudy thought to himself. "He will be angry, of course, but because I am his godson he will shut one eye. I will risk it." He therefore took hold of the sick lord and laid him the other way around, so that Mort was now standing at his head. Then he gave the lord some of the herb, and he recovered and became healthy again. Then in the dead of night, Mort came to Rudy enraged. "You've betrayed me," he declared dark and angry yet calmed soon enough, "I will forgive this slight once, but only because you are my godson," Mort stated then stalked closer to a fright filled Rudy. "However, should you do it again I will not forgive, and shall take you away with me," he stated and vanished in a burst of black feathers. Soon after the lords daughter became deathly ill. She was his only child and the lord cried himself till he was blind. He soon declared that whosoever saved her from death would become her husband and inherit his lands and wealth. Many came and tried to save her, yet all failed. Rudy was frightened of his godfather's wrath however answered the lords call all the same. "I will but take one look," he told himself, "what could one look harm," he insisted and approached the mare. However with one look at her, Rudy lost his head and made another mistake. Her beauty enchanted him, and though Mort sat at her feet the prospect of being her husband caused him to abandon reason. He did not see Mort stare at him angrily, he did not watch as ancient chains rattled beneath his cloak like vipers. Instead he lifted the sick mare and turned her around so that Mort was at her head. Then he gave her some of the herb and within moments she began to return to life. Mort, seeing that he had been cheated once more approached Rudy from behind, "you are finished," he angrily hissed, "now it is your turn," his cold voice declared. In a burst of black feathers Mort and Rudy vanished. They soon appeared in a large room with thousands of thousands of candles lit all around them. The candles burned in endless rows, large ones, small ones, and some medium-sized. Every instant some died out, and others were relit, so that the little flames seemed to be jumping about in constant change. "See," said Mort, "these lights are the flickering flames of every being in Equestria. To each race or species a different candle, and in a hidden place, the hourglasses that count out how long they have left," Mort explained, "and for most those hour glasses are quite small," the grim galloper intoned. "Show me mine," Rudy whispered in wonder. Mort chuckled and brought forth a tiny candle that was starting to dim. "W-wait, please dear godfather," the horrified physician started to beg, "please light a new one for me. Do it as a final favor to me, so I can live out my life with my new bride." However Mort merely inclined his head and brushed his hoof across his chest, then sent the candle to the side. "I cannot," he replied. "One must go out before a new one is lighted." "Then set the old one onto a new candle so that it might continue burning," Rudy begged. Mort merely narrowed his glowing eyes on his godson. He pretended to consider his godson's wish as he brought a new candle over, but one does not make a fool of death. A simple mistake and the tiny flame fell from the candle, it remained alight for a moment, then was snuffed out by Mort's hoof. Rudy fell dead, and Mort took him as payment for the life of the lord's daughter... And at the same time, at the exact moment which Rudy's flame went out a new one burned bright. It belonged to Binky's granddaughter and Rudy's niece Pinkamena Diane Pie, though her friends simply call her 'Pinkie'... "The End," Pinkie smiled and sat back as her story was finished. Rainbow and her friends gaped in shock as they looked at the pink party pony. "Holy buck! Mort can be seriously nasty when he wants to be!" Rainbow exclaimed. Pinkie idly nodded her head and yawned tiredly. "Yeah, but it doesn't help that uncle Rudy was kind of an idiot for not listening to uncle Mort when he had the chance," the pink party pony noted aloud. "Now wait a gosh darned minute here!" Applejack nearly shouted with her mouth agape. "Y'all mean to tell me that this Binky feller could've had Princess Celestia or even Nightmare Moon as godmothers for his son, but he picked Mort?" the orange apple mare demanded incredulously. Celestia snorted and then crossed her forelimbs as she sat back on her haunches. "Indeed he did," the solar diarch confirmed with a single nod. "O-Oh my," Fluttershy whispered with wide eyes. Twilight gaped openly at the admission. She tried to reason out just what possessed Binky to do what he did but drew a blank. "Oh my, I assume there was at least a reason for your dismissal then?" Rarity questioned hopefully. Celestia sighed and nodded her head. It was a bit of a let down that Binky's family was so introverted that they barely counted as her ponies anymore. Most of them lived in areas far less 'hospitable' as they were a much hardier pony than most. Pinkie was actually the 'black sheep' of her family as it were. "In his defense though, he did know Mort better than myself or Luna," the solar princess added. "Aye, and he wasn't exactly wrong about the Nightmare either," Luna noted with a frown across her face. It was no secret she wasn't exactly 'comfortable' with the things she had done so long ago. "In any case," Twilight interjected and looked to Faust. "I would assume that this is the part where we close for the night?" the little lavender mare questioned curiously. Faust merely nodded her head and called a bucket from nearby. "I hereby declare this meeting of the midnight society, closed," the ancient alicorn stated and poured the water over the flames. They hissed and fizzled out soon after, the ponies quickly getting up and heading on their way. Faust idly picked up the burlap sack and carried it in her magic. Twilight trotted over to her 'friend's' side and glanced at the bag curiously. "So what's in there anyways?" the little lavender pony questioned. Faust merely smiled and chuckled wryly. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she responded. However Twilight raised a brow and smirked. "Try me," she replied. The ancient alicorn rolled her eyes and then opened the bag and let Twilight see. The little lavender mare looked and raised a brow. It seemed like white dust but as she brought some to her mouth for a taste her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Sugar?" she gaped. Faust burst out laughing and rushed off towards Ponyville. Twilight shook her head and quickly chased after the ivory mare. As all the ponies left, a certain Draconeequs glanced to the side. Mort stood in the shadows of a few nearby trees, before looking up to Discord. "So you do have a spine," Discord noted humorously. Mort merely glared at the draconeequs for a moment before letting out a breath. "PERHAPS, BUT NOW IS NEITHER THE TIME NOR THE PLACE," the ancient necromancer stated. Discored rolled his eyes and then yawned tiredly. "Yeah yeah, whatever bone head, I think I'll head to bed," the missmatched mad pony declared. Mort silently watched as the draconeequs snapped his claw and vanished in a flash. Looking out into the distance Mort chuckled lightly and turned with a flourish of his cloak as he walked into the shadows. "ONCE A YEAR WE GO OUT AND PLAY, THOUGH I WISH IT WOULD COME EVERY DAY. A NIGHT OF WONDER AND MAGIC GALORE, A NIGHT THAT I ALWAYS LOVE TO EXPLORE. ITS ON THIS NIGHT WHEN SPIRITS ROAM, THAT I SHALL WONDER FROM HOME TO HOME. ONLY NOW ON EVE OF FEAR AND FRIGHT, IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHTMARE NIGHT." TBC...